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PEARCE COSPONSORS FOREST FIRE PREVENTION BILL

Mar 13, 2013

Washington, DC (March 13, 2013) – Today, U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce announced that he has joined with U.S. Congressman Scott Tipton (CO-03) as a cosponsor of H.R. 818, the Healthy Forest Management and Wildfire Prevention Act.

“Last summer, New Mexico experienced the worst fire in our state’s history, destroying 252 homes in and around Ruidoso, 20 homes in the Gila National Forest, and over 300,000 acres of habitat statewide,” said Pearce. “Forest management policies have failed the people. That is why I cosponsored this legislation that allows a responsible, proactive approach in fire prevention and forest management, and puts control back in the hands of those who live and work in our forests.”

H.R. 818 is designed to prevent and reduce the size of wildfires through healthy, local forest management. The Act expands states’ ability to manage local forests, and streamlines processes for forest treatment projects. As a result, forest management will become more effective, forests will be healthier, and wildfires will be fewer and smaller.